Research in organic chemistry includes organic synthesis, green chemistry, chemistry of nucleic acids and enzymes, spectroscopic characterization of reactive intermediates, analytical methods including x-ray diffraction and multi-nuclear NMR, and self-assembly.
Organic Chemistry
Associated Faculty

Amit Basu
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Areas of Interest
- Glycobiology
- Polymers
- Green chemistry
- Synthetic organic chemistry
- Interfacial recognition
- Nanomaterials

Benjamin McDonald
Assistant Professor
Areas of Interest
- Synthesis/Catalysis • Polymer Chemistry • Self-Assembly • Emulsion/Colloid Science • Material Science

Jesse Morin
Lecturer in Chemistry
Areas of Interest
- Developing authentic course-based research experiences for introductory organic chemistry students
- Designing and implementing inclusive and anti-racist pedagogy
- Areas of interest: chemical education, antibiotic discovery, synthetic organic chemistry, green chemistry

Paul G. Williard
Professor of Chemistry
Areas of Interest
- X-ray diffraction analysis
- organolithium compounds
- NMR
- organometallics
- organic synthesis

Ming Xian
Jesse Houghton Metcalf Professor of Chemistry
Areas of Interest
- Organic Chemistry
- Chemical Biology

Matthew B. Zimmt
Professor of Chemistry
Areas of Interest
- Nanoscience
- Self-assembly
- Scanning microscopies
- Organic synthesis